Vietnam

A person traveling to Vietnam must have a passport that is valid a minimum of six months from the date of entry and one month from the date of exit. Tourist visas are required, and can be obtained prior to one’s trip or upon arrival in certain ports. Should you plan to obtain a visa upon arrival to one of the following ports: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang, two passport sized photos are required.

All travelers should be up to date with their routine vaccinations upon entering Vietnam. According to the CDC if you plan to stay longer than a month, it is recommended to obtain the Japanese Encephalitis vaccination. Depending on the specific areas of Vietnam a traveler plans to visit, Malaria medication may be recommended. Any travel clinic will be able to provide the needed vaccinations and prescriptions.

The climate zones in Vietnam are divided into three sections: the north, the south and the central regions of the country. The northern zone is the coolest of the three zones, with four distinct seasons. The southern zone only experiences three seasons and has higher temperatures than the north. The central zone varies and has very hot summers, and cool winters, monsoons and strong winds. Depending on your travels, packing clothes that dry quickly, windproof, and warm jackets, and durable waterproof shoes is essential when traveling to Vietnam.

The country code for Vietnam is +84. The cell phone coverage and service is fairly widespread in Vietnam, especially in tourist zones. If you travel to outlaying places of the country, the coverage may be a bit patchy. Wi-Fi is all over Vietnam, but it is also known as one of the largest nations in terms of Internet fraud.

The standard voltage in Vietnam is 110/220V (50Hz). There are certain areas of Vietnam that do not have access to power. For all other areas there are two power plugs and sockets that are most used, both with two plugs (type A—two flat vertical plugs and type F—two round pins). It is best to purchase an adapter/ converter prior to departing for your trip, as they are necessary. Most electronic stores in the US will carry what you need to bring on your trip.

Whenever traveling abroad, it is best to make two photocopies of your passport, tickets, and visas. In addition to the originals, keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with a trusted friend or family member at home. Reported cases of the Zika virus have been found in Vietnam, so it is important to take proper health precautions while traveling to this affected country. It is also important to exercise a high degree of caution in Vietnam so as to avoid petty crimes that target foreigners. Informing your bank and/ or credit card company of your travels can help to eliminate any possible holds for fraudulent activity.

The official national currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese dong (VND). The VND is connected to the US dollar, and therefore many areas of Vietnam have prices quoted in US dollars as well as in Vietnamese dong, especially in tourist areas. Some areas allow credit cards, as a form of payment, though it is best to use VND or American cash dollars. There are ATMs in Vietnam, but it is important to be aware that ATMs in the country will only dispense Vietnamese dong.

Vietnam is a single-party socialist system. The General Secretary of the Communist party of Vietnam is the party leader and holds the highest position of the one-party system. The President of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong, is the head of state and the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, is the head of government. Executive power is implemented by the government and the President of Vietnam.

The largest religion in Vietnam makes up 73.1% of the population and is categorized as Vietnamese folk religion or non-religious. The remaining religions present in Vietnam are Buddhism 12.2%, Roman Catholicism 6.9%, Caodaism 4.8%, Protestantism 1.5%, Haohaoism 1.4% and 0.01% other.

There are fifty-four different ethnic groups that are recognized by the Vietnamese government. The most prominent ethnic groups are as follows: Kinh (Viet) 85.7%, Tay (1.9%), Thai (1.8%), Muong (1.5%), Khmer (1.5%), Mong (1.2%), Nung (1.1%), Hoa (1%), other (4.3%).

The official language of Vietnam is Vietnamese. The most widely used foreign language spoken in Vietnam is English. French, Chinese, Khmer, and other mountain languages specific to Vietnam (i.e. Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian) are also used.

Vietnam has shifted from being one of the poorest countries in the world to being an emerging lower-middle income country. Vietnam relies heavily on foreign and direct investments in order to promote economic growth. The largest industries in Vietnam are services, making up 49.75% of the GDP, industry making up 33.25% of the GDP and agriculture making up 17% of the GDP.